Early one day On a Tuesday Met a wolf king across a plain And I kissed him I caressed him Will I see you again I shall roam far across the land If you shan't be my husband Beggar, wiseman Beggar, wiseman Beggar, wiseman, or thief So he led her 'Cross the river To his kingdom And back again Played a fine lute And as night fell They returned to the plain "Sweetest maid you are right for me Though God wills me be free Sweetest maid let a human beau Gather roses for thee To a wolf you cannot be wed Choose a young man instead Beggar, wiseman Beggar, wiseman Beggar, wiseman, or thief No other I'll find I'd rather be blind
Missed your eyes of robin egg blue You have caused me Much despair, Sir Since I lay here with you To a beggar I shan't be wed Wisemen live in their head Dearest wolf king Thou art the thief Who has loved me so brief And as night fell Some folks will tell She crossed a river Down by the plain 'Twas there the current Held her under Never to be seen again On the plain sprang A red rose tree The wolf was never so free Now he roams far across the land Howling for his bride-to-be He shall roam far across the land For he shan't be a husband Beggar, wiseman Beggar, wiseman Beggar, wiseman or thief